students

WBME-TV is proud to announce that Green Screen Adventures is featuring the work submitted by Tou Lee from Christ St. Peter Lutheran School located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

He wrote “Little Boy Toby” which will be aired on Green Screen Adventures on Saturday, February 9 at 7:30 a.m. on Me-TV. Me-TV can be seen on WBME, Channel 41.1.

“We applaud young students who express their feelings and explore their creativity through their writing,” says WBME Vice President/General Manager Jim Hall, “and we applaud Green Screen Adventures for bringing these stories to life on screen.”

Green Screen Adventures, the nationally award-winning children’s television show, selects writing and illustrations by students and brings them to life using story theatre, game shows, and puppetry.

About Green Screen Adventures

Produced by Weigel Broadcasting Co. in Chicago, broadcast locally and seen nationally on Me-TV and ThisTV, the Emmy(r) Award-winning Green Screen Adventures is an educational program with the goal of promoting literacy – child-by-child, school-by-school, incorporating as many children as possible. Students in second through eighth grade are inspired to think of themselves as writers and illustrators when their stories are adapted on Green Screen Adventures. Students get the message that their words have power and that their voices are being heard. Since its premiere in March 2007, works from over 2,000 students in more than 350 episodes have been featured. All recent episodes can be viewed on the website, www.greenscreenadventures.tv <http://www.greenscreenadventures.tv> , which also provides dozens of writing prompts, teacher resources, and serves as a place for children to read stories written by other students, as well as submit works of their own. Visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/greenscreenadventures <http://www.facebook.com/greenscreenadventures> and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/GreenScreenAdv <http://twitter.com/GreenScreenAdv> .

Prospective students interested in Milwaukee Area Technical College’s pre-college education programs and services are invited to a free open house from 9 a.m. to noon or 4 to 7 p.m., Monday, Jan. 14, on the sixth floor of the Main Building at MATC’s Downtown Milwaukee Campus, 1015 N. 6th St. MATC’s pre-college programs provide a wide range of services to prepare students for college-level work. Attendees will meet with program faculty; receive detailed information about specific programs; and learn about student services, including counseling, career advising, tutoring and more. They may apply for the spring semester which begins Jan. 22. The School of Pre-College Education includes programming in: • GED/HSED to help students earn high school requirements • Adult High School, designed to earn a high school diploma or recover high school credits • English as a Second Language or bilingual classes for non-English speakers • RISE Career Bridge Pathway, which combines basic and occupational skills • Adult Basic Education/College Prep to help students work toward a high school diploma/GED or prepare for college-level work • Community-Based Organizations, a network of neighborhood basic-education sites • High School Contracts, which offer technical skills training at MATC for students attending high school • Youth Options, which allows student to earn college credits while in high school • Emerging Scholars Program to help at-risk youth to complete high school Wisconsin’s largest technical college and the most diverse two-year institution in the Midwest, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a key driver of southeastern Wisconsin’s economy and has provided innovative education in the region since 1912. Approximately 50,000 students per year attend the college’s four campuses and community-based sites or learn online. MATC offers affordable and accessible education and training opportunities that empower and transform lives in the community.

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee students often get hands-on experience in their field while earning a degree.

Two of this December’s top graduates – Nick Robinson and Otoniel Encarnacion – used that combination of work and study to find success. Robinson is graduating with a master’s degree in architecture and Encarnacion with a BBA in Finance.

Throughout Encarnacion’s college career, he worked full time or near full time while also balancing fulltime coursework.

He managed to do it all – even double majoring – in just four years and six months. “I knew I was going to have to work full time to put myself through college and that it would be really hard, but I now know it was worth it,” he says.

After spending three years working as a bank teller, he landed an accounting internship at Northwestern Mutual, where he still works. “What I learned at UWM made me more confident to take on more challenging jobs,” says Encarnacion, who plans to go on for a master’s degree at UWM.

Nick Robinson, who decided to become an architect when he was in grade school, started interning at the Uihlein/Wilson architecture firm while in high school, and continued to work there through undergraduate and graduate school. As a child he loved to draw, filling notebooks with cartoon characters and whatever caught his interest.

An architect who visited his elementary school for career day cemented his career choice. Robinson was blown away by the experience, discovering – “He gets paid to draw!”

Encarnacion was a senior at South Division High School when his college plans were seriously disrupted. Because of a paperwork glitch with his father’s visa, he and his family had to return to the Dominican Republic, which they’d left nearly five years before.

“It was a shock for everybody,” Encarnacion says. “I cried the first day I got there because I didn’t know anyone anymore. It was a rough time.”

He and his family put their life in Milwaukee on hold, thinking they’d only be gone for three months while they got the paperwork resolved. But instead, three months stretched to three years.

After returning to Milwaukee and completing an associate’s degree at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), Encarnacion started at UWM’s Lubar School of Business. Both graduates were encouraged by faculty members and programs at UWM.

As a McNair Scholar, Robinson worked with Professor Mike Utzinger to study the city’s heat island effect and water retention on the Urban Ecology Center’s green roof.

He also studied abroad for three months in France and Spain. “Paris is a freaking playground for architecture. Even their apartment buildings look like something you’d take a picture of.”

Last semester, Robinson went with Associate Professor Gil Snyder to tour Boston’s architecture.

On campus, Encarnacion was active in Beta Alpha Psi, an honorary organization for accounting students.

He credits Beta Alpha Psi’s networking opportunities, which introduced him to accounting professionals throughout the city, with helping him earn a postgraduate internship at the prestigious accounting firm Deloitte in downtown Milwaukee. “I feel pretty lucky,” he says.

Jim Fischer, a lecturer in accounting, says Encarnacion stood out because of his ready smile and intense focus during his advanced financial accounting course.

They continued to meet from time to time after Fischer’s class was over. “He was a student who was just fun to work with,” Fischer says. “He has a lot of maturity for his age.”

Encarnacion plans to continue on for a graduate degree at UWM, and become a Certified Public Accountant.

He never considered going anywhere but UWM for his graduate work. “The program is amazing,” says Encarnacion. “Everything has gone so smoothly so I don’t see a reason to move to another school.”

It hasn’t always been easy, he adds. But that’s part of what has made this graduation day so worthwhile. “I’m most proud that I made it, that I put myself through school working full time.

As students prepare for winter break, be sure to keep reading as a central focus while out of school

NewsUSA – Playtime is central to a child’s development. Many experts agree that reading, however, is just as important.

According to Richard E. Bavaria, Ph.D., senior vice president of education outreach for Sylvan Learning, now is the perfect time for learning and discovery. “It’s very important that children continue to practice their academic skills year-round as strong reading skills are incredibly important for all subjects in school. The more children read, the more they’ll enjoy reading, and the better readers they’re likely to become.”

Here are some reading tips from the brain-trust at the National Learning Association and tutoring authority, Sylvan Learning.

* Be a reading role model. By spending time reading, you show your child that reading is both fun and useful.

* Set aside a consistent time each day for reading. Depending on your family’s schedule, reading time might be in the morning, afternoon or before bed. Whatever time you choose, stick to it! Consistency is key to building good habits.

* Let your child make their reading choices. Let kids read whatever they want. Now is a good time to encourage reading about topics they don’t study during school to explore new interests, discover new talents or delve into old hobbies.

* Get your child to savor the book she or he is reading. Don’t rush through a book — take time to enjoy it. Have your child stop and think about plot points and characters. This will develop their analytical skills.

* Set goals and reward effort. Reward reading with more reading. Download the next book in your child’s favorite series on your tablet or Kindle. Let your child peruse library catalogues online for e-books.

* Read the book, then watch the movie. Few things make kids feel more “superior” than comparing and contrasting a movie to the book it’s based on. “That’s not the way it was in the book!” Let them explain the differences, guess why a director made those changes and then discuss which version they preferred.

* Go online for ideas. There are lots of websites for kids’ book choices. Visit www.BookAdventure.com for reading tips, book suggestions and educational games.

MILWAUKEE — Students, staff and families from Milwaukee Public Schools’ Mary McLeod Bethune Academy have collected close to 1,000 pounds of food for the Hunger Task Force so far this holiday season.

Approximately 97% of students at Bethune come from families with income low enough to qualify for free lunch. That hasn’t stopped the community from recognizing those with even greater needs.

The Hunger Task Force made its first pickup Thursday, December 6 — but school paraprofessional educational assistant Jeradine Young, who organized the food drive at Bethune, says the effort will continue through the remaining weeks of school before winter break.

DC Head Start students sing an enthusiastic rendition of “Jingle Bells” for their families.

A Head Start student carefully decorates a Christmas cookie as his father watches.

Some young students have marked the holiday season with a special celebration. Preschoolers from Social Development Commission Head Start – Capitol held a Winter Celebration to mark the holidays.

The three to five year olds sang a spirited version of Jingle Bells for their families who gathered for the seasonal fete at the facility located at 5305 W. Capitol Drive. They then participated in a variety of holiday-oriented activities including making Christmas cookies and tree ornaments. The youngsters also enjoyed with their families a meal served by Head Start staff and volunteers. The celebration is an annual event at the preschool program put on for the young students and their families.

State Senator Lena Taylor poses with Milwaukee high school students who participated in Discovery World’s “Building the Water Generation” program sponsored by AT&T. Discovery World and State Senator Lena Taylor teamed up with educators recently to teach Milwaukee high school students about the challenges facing the Great Lakes and available career opportunities in the freshwater field during an innovative program called “Building the Water Generation.” The event gave 80 students from Bradley Tech High School and Divine Savior Holy Angels High School the opportunity to participate in a half-day freshwater program at Discovery World. Students heard from speakers State Senator Lena Taylor, Roz Rouse of Milwaukee Water Works, and Bill Grafton of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District. Students also engaged in hands-on activities designed to more firmly establish their connection to Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes through biology and water chemistry. During visits to four different learning stations throughout the museum, students learned about: the career options available in the water field and much more.

Mequon, Wis. – Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW) has named Marsha Thomas the new Director of the Miller Park Way Center in West Milwaukee. Thomas was working at the Center as the Student Services Advisor prior to her promotion.

In her new role as the Miller Park Way Center Director, Thomas will be responsible for academic advising, working with faculty, facilities management, and retention services.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the students and the community in this new capacity and look forward to the continued growth of the Miller Park Way Center,” said Thomas.

Founded in 1881, Concordia University Wisconsin’s main campus is located on 200 acres of beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline at 12800 N. Lake Shore Drive, Mequon. The university and its 10 educational centers and classroom locations are home to 7,485 undergraduate and graduate, traditional, as well as non-traditional students from 46 states and 28 foreign countries. The University offers 60 undergraduate majors, 14 master’s degree programs, and doctoral degrees in Physical Therapy, Pharmacy, and Nursing Practice. The University also offers a variety of adult learning opportunities.

The university is affiliated with The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and is a member of the Concordia University System, a nationwide network of colleges and universities. For more information on Concordia University Wisconsin, contact the university at (262) 243-4300 or visit their Web site at www.cuw.edu.

Nearly 50 students from Milwaukee Public Schools Riverside University High School performed recently at the Milwaukee County Courthouse Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. The event, was free and open to the public, and took place inside the courthouse, 901 N. 9th Street, Milwaukee 53233, at 4 p.m. Students from RUHS Madrigal and Swing choirs performed. The performance happened less than three weeks after students from MPS Lincoln Center of the Arts Middle School Choir performed at the 99th City-County Tree Lighting at Red Arrow Park. We’re honored that our students have been invited to showcase their musical gifts and talents for the Milwaukee community, MPS Superintendent Gregory Thornton said. Thank you to our students and to the educators who give the gift of music to them. Milwaukee Public Schools is Wisconsin’s largest school district, serving nearly 80,000 students in more than 160 schools across the city. U.S. News and World Report named MPS Rufus King International School and Ronald Wilson Reagan College Preparatory High School the two best high schools in the state and among the 200 best in the country in 2012. In the past year, Milwaukee Public Schools posted a growing graduation rate 17 points higher than the rate for 2000.

Students will demonstrate competency based on variety of learning experiences

Milwaukee, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin System announced today the first degree programs that will be offered under its innovative UW Flexible Option starting in Fall 2013. The UW System is expected to be the first public university system in the nation to offer this kind of competency-based, self-paced learning option.

The UW Flexible Option is designed for nontraditional adult students who often come to college with substantial learning acquired in a variety of venues. Built by UW faculty members who oversee traditional degree offerings at the 26 UW campuses, the new UW Flexible Option will allow students to earn college credit by demonstrating knowledge they have acquired through coursework, military training, on-the-job training, and other learning experiences. Students will make progress towards a degree by passing a series of assessments that demonstrate mastery of required knowledge and skills.

UW-Milwaukee will offer four degree programs and one certificate program:

• Two Nursing degrees (R.N.-to-B.S.N. and R.N.-to-M.N.), for Registered Nurses who need additional college to qualify for higher professional credentials

• A B.S. in Information Science & Technology, preparing students for jobs in tomorrow’s digital culture and economy

• A Certificate in Professional and Technical Communication, providing students with the essential written and oral communication skills needed in today’s workplace

UW Colleges will provide an array of general education and liberal arts courses in the new UW Flexible Option format, in core fields such as biology, chemistry, mathematics, engineering, business, English, Spanish, geography, and others. The UW Colleges will work to provide the Associate of Arts and Science degree via the UW Flexible Option, which may also meet the general education requirements of four-year degree programs launched by other institutions.

Several other UW System institutions, including UW-Parkside, are working to develop Flexible Options for their degree programs, and additional offerings should be ready by Fall 2014.

“One of our core goals is to help Wisconsin create a stronger workforce, and I’m proud to say that our first cohort of UW Flex Option programs aligns closely with some of the most pressing workforce needs in Wisconsin. With innovative new approaches to higher education, we can expand college degree opportunities for potentially thousands of Wisconsin residents looking to expand their horizons and advance their careers,” said UW System President Kevin P. Reilly. “In June, we announced with Governor Walker our intention to pursue this bold new model. Today, our faculty is stepping forward to embrace that opportunity.”

“This is a new direction in American higher education, and Wisconsin is at the forefront,” said Reilly.

Under the UW Flexible Option, UW faculty members modify existing college programs into self-paced, competency-based formats. To maintain UW System’s rigorous academic standards, UW faculty will continue to oversee the academic quality of these newly reformatted degree programs. The degrees and certificates will continue to be granted by the accredited campuses already offering them via traditional teaching formats.

“This Flex Option offers a distinctive value and a unique promise to working adult students. They can start the Flex Option any time, without constraints imposed by the academic calendar. Once under way, students will determine the pace of their learning. Whenever they’re ready to demonstrate mastery of a given subject, they complete the assessment and move on to the next step,” said UW Colleges and UW-Extension Chancellor Ray Cross.

Students will be able to take full advantage of free educational resources available online and elsewhere, including the growing number of massive open online courses, or “MOOCs.” They will demonstrate their knowledge through robust, reliable assessments designed by UW faculty members, and will be held to the same rigorous standards for all UW degrees.

“Our faculty comes to this effort with very high standards and a strong commitment to quality. I have every confidence that we can provide a very rewarding, highly personalized learning experience for the students who choose this new pathway. I’m equally confident that the UWM degrees they earn through the new Flex Option platform will carry the same prestige in the workplace,” said UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Michael Lovell.

To gain valuable experience with this new learning platform, UW-Extension will offer some individual courses in the Flexible Option through a pilot program developed by UW Independent Learning. The first courses will include College Algebra, Elementary Statistics, and a non-credit Business Mathematics and Personal Finance Certificate.

The UW Flexible Option is one of the featured initiatives in the biennial budget request forwarded to the State by the UW System Board of Regents.